Growing up in a shophouse in Keong Saik in the 1970s and 1980s meant Charmaine lived among artifacts that today are mostly found in antique shops or museums

Yu Lin relaxing on one of her holidays in Xi Qiao Town, China

Esquina in the 1980s was where the local ice-cream uncle made his corn, red bean and atapchi ice-cream.*Photo credit: National Library Board Singapore

This row of shophouses used to house a Chinese calligraphy and laundry shop in addition to brothels. Today, this stretch of shophouses have transformed into boutique hotels and restaurants.*Photo credit: National Library Board Singapore

The first shophouse on the left was a Chinese sundries shop where the Chinese immigrants can get a piece of home.*Photo credit: National Library Board Singapore

Happy Jade and Yu Lin’s first family portrait

17A Keong Saik Road with its address written in red on a light box to differentiate it from residential shophouse units

Auyong Foon preparing food in an outdoor kitchen

Charmaine riding up and down the corridor of 15A Keong Saik Road on her bicycle before she developed an intense love-hate relationship with it